Container system for transport of biological material, uses thereof and methods of packaging

Abstract

The invention relates to a container system for transport of biological material comprising a container casing and an insulating device, wherein the container casing defines a container interior space for accommodation of the insulating device and for accommodation of biological material to be transported, and wherein the insulating device is constituted of at least two insulating portions, which are formed so as to surround the biological material inside the container interior space. The invention further relates to uses of such a container system for packaging and transport of biological material, as well as methods of packaging biological material for transport.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A container system for transport of biological material comprising:
 a container casing formed of a temperature-insulating polymer material, and 
 an insulating device, 
 wherein the container casing defines a container interior space for accommodation of the insulating device and for accommodation of biological material to be transported, 
 and wherein the insulating device consists of two insulating portions, which form a single layer surrounding the biological material inside the container interior space, wherein the two insulating portions are formed as a temperature-insulating gel cushion, wherein the two insulating portions contain a hydrocolloidal material, wherein the two insulating portions are connected to each other and/or are formed integrally with each other, and wherein the two insulating portions are foldable relative to each other along an interruption section. 
 
     
     
       2. The container system according to  claim 1 , wherein the insulating portions are each formed by at least one gel chamber, and/or wherein the two insulating portions are each positionable along a plane, and/or wherein the interruption section separates two gel chambers adjacent to each other, and/or wherein the interruption section is unfilled or has at least a lower filling degree than at least one of the gel chambers. 
     
     
       3. The container system according to  claim 2 , wherein the temperature-insulating gel cushion comprises a shell made of a thermoplastic resin and the two insulating portions are gel chambers containing the hydrocolloidal material. 
     
     
       4. The container system according to  claim 1 , wherein the container casing is formed of foamed polystyrene or polyurethane. 
     
     
       5. The container system according to  claim 1 , wherein the container casing has at least section-wise a wall thickness of 10 to 20 mm and/or wherein the container interior space is sized to correspond substantially to dimensions of the insulating device in order to keep the insulating device and/or the insulating portions positionally secure. 
     
     
       6. The container system according to  claim 1 , wherein the container casing consists of at least one bottom part and at least one upper part closing the at least one bottom part, wherein the at least one bottom part and the at least one upper part are separate or integrally connected elements. 
     
     
       7. The container system according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one upper part is formed with a recess, at least section-wise extending circumferentially, for receiving an at least section-wise circumferentially extending projection of the at least one bottom part, and/or wherein the at least one bottom part is formed with a projection, at least section-wise extending circumferentially, for engaging in a recess of the at least one upper part, at least section-wise extending circumferentially. 
     
     
       8. The container system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a closable receptacle for at least one biological material to be transported. 
     
     
       9. The container system according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature-insulating gel cushion is at room temperature. 
     
     
       10. The container system according to  claim 1  wherein the biological material is a sample of human or animal blood, plasma, serum, sputum, saliva, liquor, urine, or other body fluids or tissues. 
     
     
       11. The container system according to  claim 3 , wherein the temperature-insulating gel cushion comprises a shell made of polyethylene. 
     
     
       12. The container system according to  claim 3 , wherein the hydrocolloidal material is a water-based gel comprising polyacrylic acid, aluminum silicates and/or methylcellulose. 
     
     
       13. The container system according to  claim 8 , wherein the closable receptacle and/or the two insulating portions is/are sized such that the two insulating portions at least partially cover the closable receptacle. 
     
     
       14. The container system according to  claim 8 , wherein the closable receptacle and/or the two insulating portions is/are sized such that the closable receptacle is completely surrounded by the two insulating portions. 
     
     
       15. A method for packaging biological material for transport comprising:
 providing a container system according to  claim 1 ; and 
 packing the biological material to be transported between the insulating portions of the insulating device in the container casing. 
 
     
     
       16. The method for packaging biological material for transport according to  claim 15 , wherein the biological material is a sample of human or animal blood, plasma, serum, sputum, saliva, liquor, urine, or other body fluids or tissues.